What exactly is sacred space? For me it is an understanding, respect, honor of our homes, resources, habitat, bodies, minds, relationships and belongings. It is a selfless recognition that every aspect of this material world has a unique purpose and place in the bigger picture. It is the relationship we have with these things and how we dance with them in our daily lives. I am thinking about this now because as I look within myself and at those around me this seems to be an area that we all struggle with. In our current culture we are still learning to step into our own inherent power in a healthy and balanced way. The collective consciousness is changing, growing and expanding. This is evident through the green and organic culture, wanting to learn to be more respectful of Mother Earth and our own sacred vessels. The growth of interest in all things spiritual, learning to better understand how to reconcile our words, thoughts and deeds. It is an evolution in our way of being, our relationship with the Sacred Spaces that we interact with everyday. It is easy to get bogged down with negativity and feeling as though there is little growth unfolding on the material plan. But we create our experience and to be grateful to all we have is just another way of honoring this sacred space we call home.
I have learned to recognize that there are two distinct aspects of my personal energy, the shadow and the light. I see the fiery courageous warrior fighting for truth who has no fear and makes no apology. Then there is the sweet, soft, pure spiritual child that just wants to see the best in everything, to be liked and always create peace and harmony. These energies or sides of ourselves are also referred to as light and shadow. There can not be one without the other, they are inextricably connected and work together to hold the potential of our personal power. Either one by its self has no real strength or endurance but is always yearning to be met with balance from its counterpart. Before we develop awareness of these aspects of ourselves it can feel like we are being whipped around on the end of rope at some ones elses discretion. In all reality that is exactly what is happening, so it behooves us to learn about these energies and how they influence our lives and behaviors.
So this brings me back to the question of sacred space. What is it? From writing this I have learned that one aspect of sacred space is learning to honor all aspects of ourselves, the courageous shadowy warrior and the light inner child always reaching for the divine. All have a place, it is only when we think one is more important than the other that things get out of whack. Fundamentally if we honor the balance of the energies that we hold in every moment we also begin to naturally honor the simple things like respecting someones else's body, home, land, resources, life, choices, or any other number of things. To be a little cheesy, sacred space begins at home.
The analogy of light and shadow not only applies to us as individuals but also is present in the energies of our world as a whole. We have currently been dancing in a cycle that has been heavily influenced by the shadow and the teachings that come from this cycle have been difficult ones. For some time we had forgotten the importance of having respect of the earth and all those that are supported by it. Those that fly, swim, crawl, slither, grow, flow, walk and those that don't move at all. Perhaps as we come to honor ourselves and respect ourselves more we will then learn to honor all of the planets inhabitants. Asking permission to cut from a plants leaves, to take an animals life for our own nourishment or even build on a piece of land. It doesn't seem like a crazy idea to me although admittedly a new one. I see a time in my own life where this is my way of being, my personal practice. I am grateful to all of the teachers that have brought these teachings to me and have been patient has I work with them in my own life.
"We are the Ones we have been waiting for!" Linda Star Wolf
